Automatic fluid dispensing system

ABSTRACT

A commercial washing system with plural units is provided with a number of different fluids, usually in liquid form, operated by a timer controlled system having a dispenser for each different fluid at each machine unit. A head tank for each fluid controls the quantity of the respective fluid in the related unit dispensers. The system is very simple and avoids prior intermixture of the fluids.

D United States Patent 1191 1111 3,891,123 Blackburn June 24, 1975 [541 AUTOMATIC FLUID DISPENSING SYSTEM 3,186,598 6/1965 Jonsson 222/57 3,347,416 10/1967 Hamilton.... 222 56 1 1 lnvemorl Donald Blackburn 21 Gale Ave-t 3,409,176 11/1968 Krausc 222i70 Apt. 436, Toronto, Ontario, Canada [22] Filed: 27, 1973 Primary Examiner-Robert B. Reeves [21] App| 9 47 Assistant ExaminerLarry H. Martin Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Frank C. Leach, Jr. Related U.S. Appllcation Data [63] Continuation of Ser. No. 237,373. March 23, 1972,

abandoncd- 57 ABSTRACT [52] US. Cl. 222/64; 68/207; 137/255; A commercial washing system with plural units is pro- 137/571; 222/70; 222/135 vided with a number of different fluids, usually in liq- [51] Int. Cl. B67d 5/14 uid form, operated by a timer controlled system hav- [58] Field of Search 137/255, 263, 571, 624.18; ing a dispenser for each different fluid at each ma- 68/17 R, 27, 207; 222/56, 55, 57, 64, 65, 67, chine unit. A head tank for each fluid controls the 68, 70, 129, 132, 135, 136, 137, 482 quantity of the respective fluid in the related unit dispensers. The system is very simple and avoids prior in- [56] References Cited termixture of the fluids.

UNITED STATES PATENTS 10 Cl 3 D F 3.160.317 12/1964 Hambro 68/17 R WASHER N1 N 2 WASHER N3 WASHER PATENTEn JUN 24 ms 35 ,8 9].. l 2 3 22 U i. U i

WASHER WASHER WASHER WASHER N1 N2 N3 N4 #29 w SUPPLY 1. 44 45 46 47 12 43 3 2 SUPPLY 2.

44 45 46 47 29 F IG. 2

f SUPPLY 4.

SUPPLY 1.

SUPPLY 2.

SUPPLY INVENTOR.

9 DONALD BLACKBURN. BY

SUPPLY 4.

AUTOMATIC FLUID DISPENSING SYSTEM This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 237,373, filed Mar. 23, 1972 now abandoned.

This invention is directed to a dispensing system for fluid material and, in particular, to a system for dispensing discrete quantities of selected material to a selected utilization unit such as a commercial washing machine.

In the operation of contemporary commercial and industrial laundries having a plurality of washing machine units, considerable problems arise in the addition of appropriate additives such as alkali, detergent, bleach and softener, bacteriostat and other chemical supplies.

It is common practice to utilize unit programmers to signal the need for additive, which requirement is attended to manually by washman. Such manual attendance can lead to incorrect quantities, wrong sequences, missed dosages, and unwanted spillage of supplies.

The prsent invention provides a system for dispensing desired fluid supplies in individually segregated circuits wherein each machine unit is provided with a dispensing tank for each variety of supply. The circuit for each supply includes a head tank to ensure the provision of the desired quantity of the respective supply to each machine.

The passage of each quantity of supply from each dispenser tank to its respective unit is effected by gravity flow in response to a signal from the machine programmer.

In addition to a simple dispenser system providing isolation of the various supplies, the present invention provides a control system operable by different types of controllers.

The present invention thus provides a supply metering system to supply a metered quantity of fluid material to a selected receiving station comprising: a head tank having a fluid inlet extending therefrom connected to a source of the fluid material, and inlet control means to establish, in operation, a predetermined level of fluid material within the head tank; at least one dispensing tank connected to the head tank to receive the fluid material in accordance with the level in the head tank; conduit means connecting the dispensing tank to a receiving station to transfer fluid material from the dispensing tank to the station; and admission control means to control the passage of the fluid material under gravity flow to the station.

In addition to the foregoing, there is provided a holding reservoir to which the particular supply is admitted. In the case where dilution of the supply is required, diluent supply such as water is also provided by way of a proportioning valve. The supply at appropriate strength is pumped from the holding tank to the head tank. The head level in the present preferred embodiment is controlled by a float operated valve to control the pumping of the supply from the holding tank to the head tank. The pump circuit includes provision of an antisiphoning arrangement to ensure constant head in the head tank. Connection from the head tank to each of the dispensing tanks is by gravity flow through a check valve to ensure one-way operation and an absence of back flow.

Certain embodiments of the present invention are described, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional elevation of a dispensing system according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of one control circuit embodiment; and

FIG. 3 is a similar schematic for a second control circuit embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 1, tank 10 constitutes a reservoir to receive concentrated liquid chemical or supply. A holding tank 14 contains a proportioning mixer 12 having supply admitted thereto by connection 11 and water or other appropriate diluent liquid supplied by conduit 13. The flow of the two fluids is controlled by the level controller 15, which maintains a desired quantity of supply of desired concentration within the holding tank 14.

A pump 16 in holding tank 14 delivers the fluent supply by way of pipe 17 into head tank 19. An upward extension of pipe 17 is provided with an atmospheric relief valve 18 to permit the entry of air into the pipe 17 on cessation of pumping and, thus, preclude siphoning of the supply. The electrically driven pump 16 is energized through a connection 20 by a float actuated switch 21 in the head tank 19.

A plurality-of washer units 27 receiving the supply is each provided with a dispensing tank 24 connected to head tank 19 by way of gravity feed line 22. At the branch entry to each tank 24 from line 22, there is provided a check valve 23 to preclude cross-feeding between the dispensing tanks. Owing to the maintenance of a predetermined head of supply in the head tank 19, the level of supply in each of the dispensing tanks 24 is correspondingly maintained. Each of the dispensing tanks 24 is connected by pipe 26 to the supply entry of the respective machine 27. A valve 25, controlled by rod 28 connected to a solenoid operator 29, serves to release supply to the respective machine upon energization of the solenoid 29.

In operation, with a quantity of supply at a controlled concentration available in the holding tank 14, the pump 16 maintains the preset head level in head tank 19 to thereby control the volume of supply held in the respective dispensing tanks 24. Energization of a respective solenoid 29 causes the supply to flow under gravity from the respective dispensing tank 24 by way of valve 25 to the machine 27 to which the pipe 26 connects.

Dispensing of supply through the control of solenoid 29 is effected by an electrical control circuit connected with a machine programmer.

Referring to FIG. 2, this control circuit relates to a programmer of the type initiating a single signal. A programmer 40 for each washing machine serves to control a plurality of supplies such as supply 1, supply 2, etc. and uses a single output connection 41. The mechanical output for each respective solenoid valve 29 is dealt with above in relation to FIG. 1.

The output signals from programmer 40 are conducted by the connection 41 to a discriminating circuit. A stepping switch 42 connects the programmer 40 in sequence with a selected one of a bank of delay relays 44, that are normally in an open circuit condition. The presence of a signal of sufficient duration in excess of the delay time constant of the selected relay 44 causes closure of the delay relay 44 resulting in energization of a second delay relay 46 through a connection 45 and completing the circuit by a connection 47 to solenoid 29, which is thereby energized. The duration of actuation of the solenoid 29 is normally a function of the closure time of delay relay 46, which is held in a conducting state for a predetermined elapsed period of time. during which elapsed time the related dispenser tank 24 discharges supply to the related machine. Upon passage of the elapsed time, the second relay 46 opens and remains in this condition until a recycle signal of sufficient duration is again supplied from the programmer 40 to the delay relay 44. The opening of the second relay 46 precludes further discharge from the dispenser 24. The switch 42 is provided with sufficient circuits equal to the number of supply needs of the washing formula in use.

Referring to FIG. 3, this illustrates a control system utilizing a programmer 60 having an energizing circuit for each machine receiving supply. The plural outputs of the programmer 60 are respectively connected to the supply solenoids 29 by connections 45 connected with delay relays 46 having a preset closure time. upon energization from the programmer 60. As in the FIG. 2 embodiment, energization of a respective delay relay 46 produces actuation of the respective solenoid 29 with consequent release of supply to the related machine. Upon expiry of the relay elapsed time, the relay 46 opens and the supply cycle terminates until a further energization cycle commences. This is initiated by the programmer 60.

Certain additional advantages accruing from the subject invention are:

Automatic dispensing of supplies can be achieved, leading to reduced operating costs by eliminating spillage, and providing closer operational control of supply quantities; a reduction in machine cycle times can be effected by the elimination of delay in administering supplies, leading to extended machine life or a greater number of operating cycles; capability of functioning with more than one type of programmer; the avoidance of mixing different chemicals or supplies before admission to the respective machine; the provision of a simple, low cost system having a minimum of component parts of readily serviceable type; and a system in which malfunction or failure permits continued operation of other machines in the system, and operation of the affected machine with an absence of only one supply constituent.

I claim:

1. A system for supplying metered quantities of a liquid to a plurality of receiving stations including:

a source of liquid including a holding reservoir;

a head tank, said head tank having an inlet connected to said holding reservoir;

inlet control means for maintaining a predetermined level of liquid in said head tank;

means to insure that said head tank fills only to the predetermined level when the liquid is supplied to said head tank irrespective of the head pressure of the liquid in said holding reservoir;

said insuring means including:

pump means to transfer liquid from said holding reservoir to said head tank;

and means to prevent siphoning of liquid from said holding reservoir to said head tank when said P p means is inactive;

said inlet control means including means to terminate said pump means when the level in said head tank reaches the predetermined level;

a plurality of dispensing tanks;

5 means connecting each of said dispensing tanks to said head tank to cause the liquid in each of said dispensing tanks to be at the same level as the level of said head tank. each of said dispensing tanks having a predetermined volume of liquid therein in accordance with the size of said dispensing tank and the level of liquid therein;

separate check valve means cooperating with each of said dispensing tanks to prevent back flow of the liquid from any of said dispensing tanks while allowing said head tank to communicate therewith through said connecting means;

individual conduit means connecting each of said dispensing tanks with one of the receiving stations to allow gravity flow of the liquid from said dispensing tank to the receiving station;

separate means to control the flow of liquid through each of said individual conduit means to each of the receiving stations;

and means to activate each of said separate control means when the liquid is to be supplied to the receiving station to which said separate control means controls flow of the liquid, said activating means activating each of said separate control means for a sufficient period of time to allow the predetermined volume of liquid within said dispensing tank to flow by gravity through said individual conduit means to the receiving station to which said separate control means controls flow of the liquid from said dispensing tank.

2. The system according to claim 1 in which said activating means includes:

means to supply electrical signals when each of said separate control means is to be activated;

means to actuate each of said separate control means in response to an electrical signal from said supply means;

and said supply means supplying an electrical signal of sufficient duration to cause said actuating means to actuate said separate control means for a sufficient period of time to allow the predetermined volume within said dispensing tank to flow therefrom to the receiving station by gravity.

3. The system according to claim 1 in which said inlet control means comprises a level sensor in said head tank connected in controlling relation with said pump means to terminate said pump means when the level in said head tank reaches the predetermined level.

4. The system according to claim 1 in which each of said dispensing tanks is open to the ambient air.

5. A system for supplying metered quantities of different liquids to a plurality of receiving stations at selected times including:

a plurality of sources of different liquids;

each of said sources of different liquids including a holding reservoir; a plurality of head tanks; each of said head tanks having an inlet connected to a different one of said holding reservoirs;

separate inlet control means for each of said head tanks for maintaining a predetermined level of liquid in each of said head tanks;

separate means for each of said head tanks to insure that said head tank fills only to the predetermined level when the liquid is supplied to said head tank irrespective of the head pressure of the liquid in cludes:

means to supply electrical signals at each of the time intervals when one of said separate control means for the same receiving station is to be activated;

said holding reservoir; 5 means to actuate each of said separate control means a plurality of dispensing tanks for each of said head for the same receiving station in response to an tanks; electrical signal from said supply means;

means connecting each of said head tanks to each of said supply means supplying an electrical signal of said plurality of dispensing tanks, each of said dissufficient duration to cause said actuating means to pensing tanks having a predetermined volume of 10 actuate said separate control means for a sufficient liquid therein as determined by the level of liquid period of time to allow the predetermined volume in said connected head tank and the size of said diswithin said dispensing tank to flow therefrom to the pensing tank; receiving station by gravity;

separate check valve means for each of said dispensand means to cause said electrical signals from said ing tanks to prevent back flow of liquid from any supply means to be supplied to only one of said acof said dispensing tanks while allowing said contuating means at a time. nected head tank to communicate therewith; 7. The system according to claim 6 in which:

individual conduit means connected to each of said said insuring means for each of said head tanks indispensing tanks of each of said head tanks, said includes pump means to transfer the liquid from said dividual conduit means connecting one of said disreservoir to said connected head tank; pensing tanks of each of said head tanks to the and said inlet control means for each of said head same receiving station with each of said dispensing tanks comprises a level sensor connected in contanks of each one of said head tanks being controlling relation with said pump means for said nected by said individual conduit means to a differhead tank to terminate the operation of said pump ent receiving station to allow gravity flow of the liqmeans when the level of the liquid in said head tank uid from said dispensing tank to the receiving station;

reaches the predetermined level. 8. The system according to claim 6 in which each of separate means to control the flow of liquid through each of said individual conduit means to the receiving station;

and means to activate each of said separate control means for each of the receiving stations in a predetermined sequence for the same receiving station said actuating means includes a time delay relay to cause opening of said separate control means connected to said actuating means for a predetermined period of time sufficient to cause the predetermined volume in said dispensing tank to flow therefrom by gravity to the receiving station.

to cause the flow of a selected quantity of each of 9. The system according to claim 5 in which:

the liquids to the same receiving station at a predesaid insuring means for each of said head tanks intermined time relative to when the first of the liqcludes pump means to transfer the liquid from said uids is supplied to the same receiving station, said reservoir to said connected head tank;

activating means activating each of said separate and said inlet control means for each of said head control means for a sufficient period of time to tanks comprises a level sensor connected in conallow the predetermined volume of liquid within trolling relation with said pump means for said said dispensing tank to flow by gravity through said head tank to terminate the operation of said pump individual conduit means to the receiving station to means when the level of the liquid in said head tank which said separate control means controls flow of reaches the predetermined level.

the liquid from said dispensing tank. 10. The system according to claim 5 in which each of 6. The system according to claim 5 in which said activating means for each of the receiving stations insaid dispensing tanks is open to the ambient air.

FORM PO-lOSO (10-69) UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE OERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION 3,891,123 June 24, 1975 Patent No. Dated Donald Blackburn Inventor(s) It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 1 line 23 "p'rsent" should 'read 1 present Claim 1 line 18 "means is inactive 5 should Be part of line 17.

Signed and Sealed this second Day Of September 1975 [SEAL] Arrest:

RUTH C. MASON .-1 nesting Officer C. MARSHALL DANN '0 m m issinm'r of Pa [en is and Trademarks USCoMM-DC 60376-P69 u.s. covznumzm PRINTING OFFICE: 93 o 

1. A system for supplying metered quantities of a liquid to a plurality of receiving stations including: a source of liquid including a holding reservoir; a head tank, said head tank having an inlet connected to said holding reservoir; inlet control means for maintaining a predetermined level of liquid in said head tank; means to insure that said head tank fills only to the predetermined level when the liquid is supplied to said head tank irrespective of the head pressure of the liquid in said holding reservoir; said insuring means including: pump means to transfer liquid from said holding reservoir to said head tank; and means to prevent siphoning of liquid from said holding reservoir to said head tank when said pump means is inactive; said inlet control means including means to terminate said pump means when the level in said head tank reaches the predetermined level; a plurality of dispensing tanks; means connecting each of said dispensing tanks to said head tank to cause the liquid in each of said dispensing tanks to be at the same level as the level of said head tank, each of said dispensing tanks having a predetermined volume of liquid therein in accordance with the size of said dispensing tank and the level of liquid therein; separate check valve means cooperating with each of said dispensing tanks to prevent back flow of the liquid from any of said dispensing tanks while allowing said head tank to communicate therewith through said connecting means; individual conduit means connecting each of said dispensing tanks with one of the receiving stations to allow gravity flow of the liquid from said dispensing tank to the receiving station; separate means to control the flow of liquid through each of said individual conduit means to each of the receiving stations; and means to activate each of said separate control means when the liquid is to be supplied to the receiving station to which said separate control meAns controls flow of the liquid, said activating means activating each of said separate control means for a sufficient period of time to allow the predetermined volume of liquid within said dispensing tank to flow by gravity through said individual conduit means to the receiving station to which said separate control means controls flow of the liquid from said dispensing tank.
 2. The system according to claim 1 in which said activating means includes: means to supply electrical signals when each of said separate control means is to be activated; means to actuate each of said separate control means in response to an electrical signal from said supply means; and said supply means supplying an electrical signal of sufficient duration to cause said actuating means to actuate said separate control means for a sufficient period of time to allow the predetermined volume within said dispensing tank to flow therefrom to the receiving station by gravity.
 3. The system according to claim 1 in which said inlet control means comprises a level sensor in said head tank connected in controlling relation with said pump means to terminate said pump means when the level in said head tank reaches the predetermined level.
 4. The system according to claim 1 in which each of said dispensing tanks is open to the ambient air.
 5. A system for supplying metered quantities of different liquids to a plurality of receiving stations at selected times including: a plurality of sources of different liquids; each of said sources of different liquids including a holding reservoir; a plurality of head tanks; each of said head tanks having an inlet connected to a different one of said holding reservoirs; separate inlet control means for each of said head tanks for maintaining a predetermined level of liquid in each of said head tanks; separate means for each of said head tanks to insure that said head tank fills only to the predetermined level when the liquid is supplied to said head tank irrespective of the head pressure of the liquid in said holding reservoir; a plurality of dispensing tanks for each of said head tanks; means connecting each of said head tanks to each of said plurality of dispensing tanks, each of said dispensing tanks having a predetermined volume of liquid therein as determined by the level of liquid in said connected head tank and the size of said dispensing tank; separate check valve means for each of said dispensing tanks to prevent back flow of liquid from any of said dispensing tanks while allowing said connected head tank to communicate therewith; individual conduit means connected to each of said dispensing tanks of each of said head tanks, said individual conduit means connecting one of said dispensing tanks of each of said head tanks to the same receiving station with each of said dispensing tanks of each one of said head tanks being connected by said individual conduit means to a different receiving station to allow gravity flow of the liquid from said dispensing tank to the receiving station; separate means to control the flow of liquid through each of said individual conduit means to the receiving station; and means to activate each of said separate control means for each of the receiving stations in a predetermined sequence for the same receiving station to cause the flow of a selected quantity of each of the liquids to the same receiving station at a predetermined time relative to when the first of the liquids is supplied to the same receiving station, said activating means activating each of said separate control means for a sufficient period of time to allow the predetermined volume of liquid within said dispensing tank to flow by gravity through said individual conduit means to the receiving station to which said separate control means controls flow of the liquid from said dispensing tank.
 6. The system according to claim 5 in which said activating means for each of the receIving stations includes: means to supply electrical signals at each of the time intervals when one of said separate control means for the same receiving station is to be activated; means to actuate each of said separate control means for the same receiving station in response to an electrical signal from said supply means; said supply means supplying an electrical signal of sufficient duration to cause said actuating means to actuate said separate control means for a sufficient period of time to allow the predetermined volume within said dispensing tank to flow therefrom to the receiving station by gravity; and means to cause said electrical signals from said supply means to be supplied to only one of said actuating means at a time.
 7. The system according to claim 6 in which: said insuring means for each of said head tanks includes pump means to transfer the liquid from said reservoir to said connected head tank; and said inlet control means for each of said head tanks comprises a level sensor connected in controlling relation with said pump means for said head tank to terminate the operation of said pump means when the level of the liquid in said head tank reaches the predetermined level.
 8. The system according to claim 6 in which each of said actuating means includes a time delay relay to cause opening of said separate control means connected to said actuating means for a predetermined period of time sufficient to cause the predetermined volume in said dispensing tank to flow therefrom by gravity to the receiving station.
 9. The system according to claim 5 in which: said insuring means for each of said head tanks includes pump means to transfer the liquid from said reservoir to said connected head tank; and said inlet control means for each of said head tanks comprises a level sensor connected in controlling relation with said pump means for said head tank to terminate the operation of said pump means when the level of the liquid in said head tank reaches the predetermined level.
 10. The system according to claim 5 in which each of said dispensing tanks is open to the ambient air. 